Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly intervened in a disciplinary case involving U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun following the striker’s red card during the team’s last-32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Balogun received a one-match suspension after being sent off for an incident in which he appeared to make accidental contact with Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic.

According to reports, Trump directly contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun’s ban. Subsequently, FIFA’s disciplinary committee invoked Article 27 of the organization’s disciplinary code to suspend the red card. This decision means that Balogun will not serve the one-game suspension immediately; instead, the ban will only be enforced if he commits a similar offense within the next 12 months.

FIFA’s application of Article 27 effectively places Balogun’s suspension on hold, a move that sparked some controversy given the nature of the red card during a crucial knockout stage match. Supporters of the decision argue that the contact was accidental, while critics contend that the original sanction should stand to maintain disciplinary consistency.

Donald Trump responded positively to FIFA’s announcement, posting on his social media platform that the organization had “done what was right” by overturning what he described as a “great injustice.” The situation highlights the influence of high-profile figures in sports disciplinary matters and raises questions about governance and fairness within FIFA processes.

The United States team advanced after the match, moving deeper into the tournament, with Balogun remaining eligible to play in subsequent fixtures unless future infractions occur. The long-term implications of this disciplinary approach remain to be seen as FIFA continues to address player conduct under its code.